hagel's confirmation will have to wait until after congress returns from a ten-day recess. democrats accuse gop senators of putting politics before national security. dana bash on the setback for the obama administration. >> on this vote, the yea are 58, nays 40. the motion is not agreed to. >> reporter: chuck hagel fell short of the 60 votes needed to be defense secretary. >> not a secretary in the history of defense has been filibustered. never ever. >> reporter: some say hagual e hagel -- >> we have a responsibility to consider the nominee. a number of the republican senators have questions. >> reporter: but democrats see it another way. that republicans are dragging their feet on hagel in order to look for more information to bring him down. let's not hide behind a filibuster. let's have the courage, vote yes or vote no. don't hide behind parliamentary tricks. >> reporter: the white house knew from day one hagel's confirmation would not be easy. controversial statements on israel, jews and gays as well as his positions on iran and iraq put him in the crosshairs of senat